Many thanks to everyone who helped with the 1999 Nightingale Survey. The survey has gone exceptionally well and I have been inundated with records, however, I would still be pleased to receive any that are still outstanding. Also as I have almost finished compiling the database for the SOG Raptor and Owl breeding survey, if anyone has any outstanding breeding records going back to 1995 please would you send them on to me.
Organised by the BTO and the Game Conservancy Trust to compare the use made by birds (including game birds) of different wild bird crop mixtures and game-cover crops. The survey period is over three winters (October to March) 1998/99, 1999/00 and 2000/01.
This survey will involve several different components, probably including coverage of random squares, counts at important sites and casual records. The survey will be carried out over the winters 1999/00, 2000/01 and 2001/02.
Fieldwork involves approximately four visits to selected organic farms and nearby conventional farms.
The survey will take place between May and July and is likely to be based on more than 1000 randomly selected tetrads. Each tetrad will be visited once for a maximum of two hours (methodology to be used on the findings of the summer 1999 pilot work).
In addition to the above surveys, perennial and long running surveys include:- Wetland Bird Survey, WeBS Low Tide Counts, Garden Bird Feeding Survey, Heronries Census, Nest Record Scheme and Waterways Bird Survey.
If anyone wishes to take part in any of the above surveys, especially the forthcoming new surveys then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mick Wright
Regional Representative for the BTO & SOG Project Officer
Tel: (01473) 710032
Email: mick.wright@btinternet.com